NEED TO KNOW
- A Texas mother has been sentenced in the 2023 death of her infant son, who starved to death inside a hotel room in Waco
- Skylynn Tuerk was sentenced to 40 years each for murder and injury to a child charges, as well as two years each for endangering a child and a drug charge, according to local media
- “The horrific and irresponsible nature of this defendant’s behavior left us unwilling to agree to any lower punishment,” Tara Avants, a state attorney, said in a statement
A mother will spend decades behind bars after her 3-month-old son starved to death inside a hotel room in Texas.
Skylynn Tuerk was sentenced on Thursday, Aug. 21, in Waco’s 54th State District Court on charges of murder, injury to a child, endangering a child and possession of a controlled substance, according to ABC affiliate KXXV, CBS affiliate KWTX and the Waco Tribune-Herald.
Her sentencing came shortly after she pleaded guilty on the four counts in connection with the 2023 death of her infant, per KXXV. Judge Susan Kelly sentenced her to 40 years each for the murder and injury to a child charges, as well as two years each for endangering a child and the drug charge, according to both KXXV and KWTX.
The mother will serve the sentences concurrently and must serve at least two decades before being deemed eligible for parole, per both outlets, which added the woman got credit for the 633 days already served.
A state attorney and legal representation for Tuerk did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Sunday, Aug. 24.
The sentencing follows the November 2023 arrests of both Tuerk and Charles Harris after their child — widely identified in local reports as Baby JJ — was found unresponsive at Waco’s New Road Inn, KXXV reported at the time, citing court records.
The baby was described as “starving and looking like a skeleton” before he died, per a 2023 KWTX report. His then-3-year-old sister was reportedly found in reach of blades and swords and taken into state custody.
According to KXXV, cockroaches, raw meat and methamphetamine were also discovered in the room. KWTX reported that police discovered half a gram of methamphetamine and a drug scale in the room, as well as no “real food for the children” beyond juice boxes and fruit snacks.
Jonathan Sibley, Tuerk’s defense attorney, told KXXV after his client’s sentencing that she “was devastated by the loss of her child.”
“Skylynn and her family still grieve for the loss of their child, but are pleased to put this part of the process behind them,” the attorney said. “Skylynn and her family not only lost a loved member of their family, but, this family will also have to deal with losing Skylynn for a period of time while she is incarcerated. Skylynn’s family was represented in court today to support Skylynn and I’m sure they will continue to support her in any way they can while she is incarcerated.”
Tara Avants, a state attorney, told KXXV in a statement that Tuerk “accepted responsibility and received a sentence in the upper end of the punishment range.”
“Legally, there is only a 10-year difference between a life sentence and a 40-year sentence,” Avants said. “The horrific and irresponsible nature of this defendant’s behavior left us unwilling to agree to any lower punishment.”
According to KXXV, which cited a family member, the young girl also found in the room in 2023 was recently adopted, while Harris — the father — has a court date approaching in September.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
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